Three Things Coupons Have Taught Me About God's Economy

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Everybody wants to save more money at the grocery store. Like losing weight, keeping a clean home, or being organized, however, "wanting to" doesn't make it happen. You have to work at it. Going from "wanting to" to "working at it" all depends on how desperate you are to make a change--a change because
you realize the benefits are not just for yourself, but for your family.
Changing things in our lives is never easy. Transformation beckons us to go against the flow of our deeply-entrenched habits. Not only are we swimming upstream to conquer doing things the way we always have, we are going against the current of a culture that is losing its work ethic to a lack of focus, a tendency to procrastinate, and the notion that somebody else will do it. Y'all, that's not going to happen.

During my almost two years of learning how to save money at the grocery store, I have discovered Biblical principles and learned more about the character and ministry of God. Yes, I'm serious--through couponing I've grown closer to the Lord. Isn't that amazing? I love that He is so willing to teach us His principles through everyday life. Here are just a few things that He's revealed to me:

Patience is learned through waiting. Waiting until something goes on sale often means waiting for a favorite dish to be prepared. I don't like to wait. Who does? But waiting is something the Lord is really good at. He is slow to anger (Psalm 145:8) and His patience affords us the time we need to come to Him for salvation (2Peter 3:15). If I'm not patient enough to wait on something to go on sale, then how patient will I be waiting for something I've asked of the Lord?

Generosity is always doable. A lot of times we think living on a budget means we can't be givers. When I follow the match-ups at Kelly's site, Faithful Provisions, it's easy for me to stock up my church's food pantry with great deals that often don't cost me anything but time (truly, the most difficult of our resources to give). When folks are on a tight budget, giving is on hiatus. People tend to think they are having a hard enough time trying to take care of themselves and make ends meet. God's economy is so much different from ours, isn't it? God says that the generous man will be prosperous (Proverbs 11:24-25). We can never "outgive" God.

Opportunities for ministry are everywhere. At one grocery store I go to, there is a certain cashier who always moans when he sees me. (Not really all that good for my self-esteem, LOL) "I hate coupons!" he always mutters under his breath. While it would be my tendency to take that personally and just avoid this man altogether, I decided to ask him what the problem was and why he hated coupons. Long story short, he hates them because they are inconvenient. It means more work for him, and he doesn't like to have to thumb through my stack and scan them because they often stick together and, well, he is just easily irritated. :)

But I get it. And I always have a lot of coupons. So now, when I go through his line, I take the time to re-order my coupons so that I don't have two of the same size/type in a row. For example, I'll stack a newspaper coupon and then one I printed off so that they don't stick together. This makes them easier to flip through, and I think it's what I would want someone to do for me (Matthew 7:12). He still hates them, LOL, but I've gotten to know him a little now, and I always ask about his wife and family. He's even shared some prayer concerns with me.

What would happen today if you decided to change your thinking and open up your mind by looking at something with a God-perspective? It doesn't have to be coupons. It could be the neighbor who is driving you crazy, the kid who keeps arguing, or the closet that is begging to be cleaned out. God uses everyday life to teach us how to live: in Him, through Him, and for Him.


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Resolved: 25 Ways to Save Money This Year

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So, how's that nest egg looking? Recently, I read about a woman who determined to survive one full year without purchasing anything but absolute necessities. She not only saved money, but she gained some valuable insights about herself. As she simplified her life by freeing herself of material constraints, she found she not only needed less, she wanted less. Hmmm. That’s worth thinking about. Click on the links below to check out 25 tips that can help you save some money this year...and maybe end up wanting less!

• Resolve to Do It Yourself (#1 - #5)
• Resolve to Never Pay Full Price (#6 - #10)
• Resolve to Abstain (#11 - #14)
• Resolve to Wait (#15 - #18)
• Resolve to Re-Use and Recycle (#19 - #25)

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It's Nothing...Just A Little Coupon Quandary...

It’s not all that easy being bff’s with Nashville’s Coupon Gal. Especially when you haven’t been to the grocery store in three weeks because you haven’t kept up with your couponing! You see, since Kelly and I met over a year ago, I don’t go to the store without coupons. So if I don’t have a list and a plan, I don’t go. I won’t go. I refuse.

Kelly (R) and me (L)

The woman has ruined me. LOL.

So my family eats out of the stockpile until I get my game on again. This has worked pretty well, as I usually stay a week ahead on meal-planning—until last spring when I was out of town several times with speaking engagements, and David’s baseball schedule was consuming most of our weeknights, and we were trying to finish up school, graduate our senior, and help our community recover from all things flood-related!

Although I had kept up with my couponing for months and I was reaching my one-year anniversary, I totally fell off the wagon. I felt stuck. I had to go to the store…
but I really needed to get my coupons together…
but I really didn’t have any because I was so far behind…
but because it had been so long since I had gone shopping, we were out of everything!

Did I mention that I am easily overwhelmed? If I don’t stay on top of something, be it piles of coupons, piles of laundry, or piles of papers to grade, it is very hard for me to deal. And since I am a procrastinator, this happens more than it should. Thankfully, I am learning to ask for help when I need it, so I took a deep breath and

Updating Your Home for Fall? Get More Bang for Your Buck!

Time to come in, y'all!

That's how I feel about this time of year. As fall approaches, I begin to realize that my family and I are going to be spending lots more time indoors. Is my house ready for it? Lots of people are doing their fall cleaning (which sounds much better than to say that you are just now doing the spring cleaning that you put off LOL), and it's natural to want to update as well.

But...we're kind of in a recession...so is there a way to update, fix up, and spruce up on a budget?

Design by Vickie Morehead, VM Designs LLC

I went straight to an expert with this question--my friend Vickie Morehead, the owner of VM Designs, a very talented designer whose expertise is showcased in the homes of the rich and famous around Nashville and Atlanta, as well as in the homes of her friends and neighbors. What should you do to get the most style satisfaction for the least amount of money? Vickie says paint, lighting, and window treatments--working together or as single elements--can transform a ho-hum home into a special space for your family.

Paint. “Paint will always change a room,” says Vickie. “Pick three colors you like and then narrow down from there. If you pick more than three colors, you will just get confused.” An inexpensive option, paint offers homeowners a re-do in a just a few hours’ time. (This is a great time of year to buy paint, too, as there are several rebates going on and Labor Day sales that will last through this week!)

Lighting. Sometimes a couple of new lamps are all you need to change a room. Try swapping light bulbs for more or less wattage to see how it changes the atmosphere in the space. Remove tinted or frosted glass on lighting insets and replace with clear to let the light really shine. (Funny story: I had a kitchen lighting fixture that I thought had frosted glass for some time...until I cleaned it...and all the "frost" came off with windex. LOL)

Window treatments. “Curtains will change a room completely,” Vickie says. And she says they don’t have to be custom-made. Take a store-bought curtain and add a little extra treatment at the bottom with a contrasting fabric. Another idea is to add a strip of ribbon or beads to the bottom of a pre-made valance. All you need is a glue gun and some creativity!

When it comes to your home, little changes can be truly transforming because they change the way you feel about your space. A vase of flowers or a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen table may seem minute to some, but for a busy mom, it becomes a place to rest your eyes and then press on with a new perspective. And that can make a big difference in your day--and consequently--in your family's!



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Healthy Snacks For Your On-the-Go Middle Schooler

What does your middle schooler find when he heads to the kitchen for a snack? Foods that are kid-friendly are not always healthful. Air-puffed and highly processed snacks are not going to be filling. He needs fuel that meets his requirements for quick and easy and your requirements for nutritious and wholesome.
Keep these snacks on hand for your on-the-go middle schooler:

Whole grain pretzels

Bagels (top with peanut butter. low-fat cream cheese, local honey, or spreadable fruit)

Microwave Popcorn (look for the less salt, less butter varieties)

Yogurt (Save money by getting the larger containers rather than single-serving sizes. Top with homemade granola, nuts, or fruit.)

Raisins

Fruit (Choose from what's in season and on sale!)

Cut-up veggies like carrots, cucumbers, or celery and keep them stashed in the fridge for easy access. Accompany with ranch dip, pimento cheese, or natural peanut butter.

Juice pops (Make your own by freezing 100% juice in ice trays or Popsicle molds)

Cheese and whole wheat crackers


What are your kids' favorite healthy (or at least healthier, LOL) snacks? (When I was in middle school, I loved English muffins topped with pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese, slid under the broiler for just long enough to brown the edges and melt the cheese. Ohhhh, the days when the metabolism was high....)


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Mom's Tip of the Day #49

It’s never too early to teach your child good stewardship. Packing a healthy lunch from home incorporates lessons in good physical health as well as strong fiscal health!

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How My Middle Schooler Saved Me $2000

Okay, here's what happened:

Derek and I almost always go pick up newspapers after church on Sunday. It is our habit, our routine, that-thing-we-do. We go just across the street from the church, where we can get them for $1 each. I usually get two or three Sunday papers, for the coupons, of course! I pull up in front of the store, Derek runs in, purchases them, and comes back out. Takes about two minutes total. Well, last Sunday, I pulled up--to my usual place right in front of the door--and he hopped out of the car to run in. However, on his way in, he held the door open for a female police officer who was on her way out.

She came directly over to the car and tapped on the window. I rolled it down. Here's the conversation:

Officer: Was that your son who just held the door open for me?

Me: (gulp) Yes, Officer, he was just going in there to pick up some newspapers. (Now, I'm not sure why I felt led to tell her what he was doing. Who cares, you know? But my first thought was that she was offended by his gesture. Maybe she didn't want some kid holding the door open for her. I will be quite honest and tell you I have never had a police officer come over to talk to me while I was in my car. I was a bit unnerved, and so I was a little on the chatty side. Kind of like now, just thinking about it.)

Officer: Well, I just want you to know that because he did that, I am going to overlook the fact that you are parked in a Fire Zone, which is a $2000 fine. And I'm going to take you off my list. And you can consider this your blessing for the day.

And that's how my middle schooler saved me $2000!

So much for couponing. :)

Top Five Best Ways to Cut Your Costs

After another successful day yesterday of “adventure shopping,” I’m all over helping you today with the top five best ways to cut your costs! If you've got tips of your own, feel free to add them! I'd love to hear how you save money, and how you're teaching your kids the value of a dollar!

Meal Planning. Tried and true, this is how meal planning works for me: I look at my calendar and see which nights we will be eating at home, which nights I need to pack a cooler for the ballpark, and which nights we will eat out. Then I check what I already have on hand and decide from that the meals that we are eating. Now, it took me a while to get to this point, where I am “stocked ahead” enough to plan my meals from what I already have. But once I’ve done that, then I can do my weekly shopping according to what is on sale. I don’t have to shop according to what I need for a particular meal. Does that make sense?

Couponing. Coupons work best when they are paired with items that are already on sale. I never used to clip coupons because I just didn’t see the point. Well, thanks to my dear friend Kelly at Faithful Provisions, I get it now! And there is no turning back!

Do It Yourself. Gardening. Baking from scratch. There are so many things you can do right from your own kitchen to cut your cost of living. The Internet is ripe with how-to’s on everything from making your own pizza sauce to making your own laundry detergent. If you’re serious about saving money, you can do it!

Reduce, Reuse, Recyle. I’ve found this to be true, especially when it comes to kids’ clothes! Find another mom who is interested in sharing clothes—what a savings! And there is always consignment for those clothes that have been gently worn! One year I made enough consigning clothes to buy my kids all the new clothes they needed! I once heard of a stay-at-home mom who teamed up with a working mom to do consignment. Here’s what they did: The working mom passed her daughter’s hand-me-downs to the stay-at-home mom’s girl. The stay-at-home mom’s daughter wore the clothes, and when she had outgrown them, this mom prepared the clothes for consignment. The money earned was then returned to the working mom. Talk about a win-win! That sounds like a great deal!

Do without. What? Yes, that is one of the best ways to save money! Ask yourself: Do I really need this ____________ (fill in the blank: dinner out, pair of shoes, purse, outfit, etc.). Certainly, it’s okay to treat yourself once in a while, but it's also a good practice to make yourself wait on things that are non-necessities. That’s sets a great example of self-control and good stewardship for your children.

Because No One Is Going To Do It For You--Just Do It!

Hey Everybody,

A friend asked me recently, "How are you saving so much money with coupons?" She had attended the coupon classes that Kelly taught at my church last summer, and yet, she wasn't saving any money at the grocery store.
Concerned, I started to ask some questions. "Are you meal-planning? Are you buying what's on sale? Are you buying extra papers each week and keeping your coupons organized?" Well...no. She wasn't doing any of the things we had been taught!

Here's a news flash that we all eventually learn: No one is going to do it for you. Whether it's making your bed every morning, finding your keys, or saving money, there are certain things that, if you're like me, you have to do yourself. It would be nice to have a maid, a personal assistant, and a money tree in the back yard, but that's not happening! So what are you waiting for?

Couponing has become my own personal adventure. (Well, that's an adventure, and driving with my almost 16 yo son has become an adventure in and of itself. Let me just interrupt this post with a big "Thank you, Hand of the Lord, that surely saved us yesterday afternoon!" But that is for another post! Boys are different, moms...) It's a game, a hobby, and a lot of fun. But the coupons don't clip themselves. And the meals don't plan themselves.

Saving money doesn't just happen.

Like anything, whether it is budgeting, exercising, parenting, or having a quiet time each day, you have to make a decision. And you know what? You really have to make those kinds of decision every day. It just takes one splurge on the credit card, one day you skip your walk, one day you let the kids walk all over you, or one day of hitting the snooze, and BLAHM! you're on a slippery slope!

How about today? Let today be the day you do something you've been meaning to do!

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Dinner Plans

Hey Everybody,

Ever since I met Kelly of Faithful Provisions, my view on dinner has changed! After being mentored by her in a new way of shopping, it naturally led to a new way of eating and menu planning, as well! I believe that Kelly's shopping techniques will work for stay at home moms as well as working moms. In fact, I believe that there are a lot of moms who could even manage to stay home if they decided to follow her shopping principles! It could make that much of a difference in your family's budget! (I just have to mention that this pic was taken last summer, and just seeing that beautiful sunny day is giving me spring fever! It has snowed more in the last three weeks here in Middle Tennessee than it has in the past seven years! Not kidding!)

Here's a sample of one way that a two-income family could make up a week's dinner plans, with a few tips I've learned from Kelly sprinkled in!

Monday—Dad cooks. Leave something defrosting in the fridge for Dad to throw on the grill or in the oven when he gets home. What will it be? It will be whatever meat you have bought on sale! Kelly suggests adding your marinating sauce to your meat before you put it in the freezer. I have tried this and it works great!

Tuesday—Mom cooks. Use the crock pot for everything from lasagna to low-cal vegetable soup. One of my favorite crockpot recipes is here.

Wednesday—Many churches offer a family night supper on Wednesdays. If yours does not, make this meal a light supper of salad, sandwiches, or hot dogs before your regular mid-week church activities. At our church, the Wednesday night meal costs $3 per person, which adds up to $15 for the Powells. Obviously, I could cook at home for a much lower price! However, the value here is for the fellowship and the friendship that is so generously offered around our tables!

Thursday—Casseroles are easy to put together when you cook the meat ahead of time and freeze it. Also, Kelly encourages folks to have baking days and put your casseroles together, then freeze them. You then have go-to meals available in your own freezer, which helps tone down the impulse to "just grab something" on the way home.

Friday—Celebrate the weekend by eating out or ordering in! Just be sure you use a coupon! LOL!

Resolve to Re-Use and Recycle (#19 - #25)

In my quest to maintain a clutter-free home, I often overlook the fact that before I toss, I could possibly recycle.

19. Save the wax paper from the inside of cereal boxes. Just trim the ends with a pair of scissors and cut it down the middle (makes two good-sized pieces).

20. Use the netting from a bag of potatoes as a kitchen scrubber.

21. Toss a lightly used steel wool pad into the freezer. When you need it, it will be ready to use again.

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22. Save $50 this year by simply using cloth napkins instead of paper. Why not?

23. Reuse old toothbrushes. First, run them through your dishwasher, then use for scrubbing everything from laundry stains to air conditioning vents.

24. Save children’s shoe boxes as creative organizers. Use as drawer dividers or as storage for craft and scrapbooking supplies. I have also reused egg cartons for things like jewelry (earrings, beads), office supplies (paper clips, rubber bands), and in the “junk drawer” (miscellaneous screws, nails, tacks, and washers).

25. Reuse the Sunday comics as creative gift-wrap for children’s gifts.

Got money-saving tips of your own? Please do share!


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Resolve to Wait (#15 - #18)

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Do you have a major purchase in mind for this year, such as kitchen appliances, a new car, or major home improvement? Well, how long can you wait? When my oven broke, I could have easily gone to the local appliance store and bought a new one on credit. However, my mother-in-law was just three months away from updating her kitchen and purchasing all new appliances. She offered me her old oven; I just had to wait until her new one was installed. Not only did I save money by delaying my own purchase of a new oven for now, but I used the three months of waiting learning lots of different crock pot and stove top recipes! Before making any major purchase, resolve to save money by seeking these alternatives:

15. Repair what you can.

16. Update with less expensive alternatives.

17. Postpone any purchase until you have the cash.

18. Borrow items you need from a neighbor, friend, or family member. Be willing to barter or trade in return.

It's especially good for your kids to see you waiting on something you really want. Puts it all in perspective!

Resolve to Re-Use and Recycle (#19 - #25)



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Resolve to Abstain (#11 - #14)

A weekly manicure? A daily morning stop a the convenience store or drive through for coffee? The impulse buy of a magazine from the newsstand every time you grocery shop? What could you give up and not miss, saving the money instead?

11. The daily newspaper. Subscribe for weekends only, or buy the Sunday edition (loaded with coupons) at a dollar store. (Be careful where you park!)

12. Expensive movie channels. Check out all the latest flicks from your local library.

13. Starbucks. Try an inexpensive alternative, or consider it a weekly treat rather than a daily necessity.

14. Extras. Earrings? Shoes? A new outfit? The truth is that you have everything you need right now.

If you don’t want to go cold turkey, resolve to give up something that you might consider a luxury just for this month. Deposit what you would spend in a jar or envelope. At the end of the month, check to see how much money you’ve saved. Multiply by twelve to figure your year-end savings if you continue to abstain. Is it worth it? You decide.


Resolve to Wait (#15 - #18)



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Resolve to Never Pay Full Price (#6 - #10)

From huge purchases like cars and real estate, to smaller family items like shoes and socks, resolve this year that you will never pay full price.

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6. Shop the clearance racks for clothes.

7. Shop scratch and dent for home appliances.

8. Check out estate sales, auctions, and online sites like CraigsList for great buys on furniture.

9. Compare prices online, print out copies, and go shopping armed with your information.

10. Some stores offer to match any other store’s price. Gather the Sunday circulars, then do all your shopping from one store.

Resolve to Abstain (#11 - #14)






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Resolve to Do It Yourself (#1 - #5)

Thousands of people save money each year on home construction, repair, and improvement by providing their own “sweat equity.” Even if you are not planning a major project this year, you can experience significant savings by doing some things for yourself, rather than hiring the services of others.

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1. Do your own yard work: mowing, trimming, hedging. A good yard service can run you $50 a week. (You can hire your own kid for half that!)

2. Clean your own gutters. This can cost anywhere from $50 to $150.

3. Paint your own house. Takes a lot of time, but saves a lot of money! Consider it family bonding time!

4. Learn how to change your oil. A typical oil change will cost around $30.

5. Clean your own carpets. Deals abound, but unless you have really dirty carpets that require a professional's touch, you can rent a machine for about $25 for the day.

Resolve to Never Pay Full Price (#6 - #10)





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"I Can't Afford to Smoke"

Hey Everybody,

I just saw a news segment about how much money can be saved by giving up smoking! Did you know an average smoker smokes away nearly $2200 each year? That's a LOT of money! As my almost 16-year-old son is well aware, that's a decent used car. Depending on your mortgage or rent, that's 2-3 months of payments. It's paying off a credit card. It's new living room furniture. And on my budget, it's 22+ weeks of groceries--almost half the year!

A lady in the news story said she was giving up her cigarettes because, "I can't afford to smoke." Well, this year, I discovered that I can't afford not to coupon! Back in May, I returned from a trip to the grocery store barely staying within our then budget of $150/week. Prices were really beginning to rise on everything, and as I drove home, I was praying about it. "I need some help with this, Lord," I remember saying. "There's got to be a better way to shop. There's got to be a way to save more money."

When I got home, my husband literally met me at the door with a message that HomeLife magazine wanted me to do a story on money-saving expert, Coupon Gal Kelly Hancock and her ministry, Faithful Provisions. Kelly's heart was to teach people how to save money, primarily at the grocery store, so that they could live generously!

I met up with Kelly a few weeks later, and she began to mentor me in the art of shopping, couponing, and menu-planning in such a way that it all works together. You see, I thought I knew how to shop and menu-plan (in my opinion, I didn't have time to coupon--LOL). But I really didn't know how to incorporate those three aspects in order to really make a difference in my budget, my kitchen, and even in the lives of other people (I've been able to give to two different food ministries this year!). Kelly showed me how, and I count her teaching as well as her friendship among my greatest blessings of 2009!

Recently, I found a bit of confirmation as to just how much I have learned since May. I found a grocery receipt from this past April in a jacket pocket. I had spent around $150 on that trip and saved 21% (around $30, buying store brands and sale items). This week, I spent $92.43 and saved 48% (that's $84.78--$36 of that was coupons). Wow! This is typical for me now! I love it!

So, how hard is it? Well, I follow Kelly's blog daily for coupon match-ups and special freebies, and I spend a couple of hours planning every week. The way I figure it, who wouldn't take a two-hour a week job (working from home!) that netted $200/month? I'm not passing that up. I can't afford not to coupon!

In the Flesh: A Coupon Jedi

Hey Everybody,

I want you to know I have now seen a Coupon Jedi in the flesh.

My boys and I were at Publix for our weekly shopping trip (Let me insert here that I am actually a loyal Kroger customer. Ahem. I have just started going to Publix on a deals-only basis LOL). As we went to checkout, there was a lady in line in front of us with a STACK of coupons. The cashier looked at me and said, "You might want to go to another line. This is going to take a while."

Are you kidding me? "No way," I replied. "I want to watch."

Well, 20 minutes later, after the manager walked over three times to validate things and other checkers came over to watch, too, the gal in front of me spent $73.

And she saved $136.

So, it really does happen! I was impressed, needless to say, and if I had had my camera with me, I would have taken a picture of her.

I'm telling y'all, this thing works, and every Monday I am adventure shopping, trying to get my totals down. It did me a world of good to see that Coupon Jedi and just be encouraged!

My daughter just explained to me that if I stick with this terminology, it makes me a Coupon Padawan.

May the force be with you!

Even My Mother Can't Believe. . .

that I saved so much money today!
Hey Everybody,
Thanks to my friend Kelly's motivation and mentoring skills, I finally got under the $100 mark TODAY on my weekly grocery trip! Rich and I had to hustle to get the food put up because we were headed out to Chick fil a (free sandwiches today! yum!) :), so I didn't get a picture, but I will give you the breakdown:
I spent: $94.
Now, that's my total shopping trip, after going to both Publix and Kroger.

• Publix: Spent $19.95 and saved $27.49. That's a savings of around 58%.
• Kroger: Spent $74.00 and saved $46.47. That's a savings of around 38%.

I am really pleased with this. I keep calling it the "grocery game" because I am really having fun with it. Clipping my coupons, doing the meal plans, matching up the deals--it is good, clean fun! It beats sudoku, anyway! LOL
If you want to investigate saving money by shopping smarter, check out Kelly's site, Faithful Provisions.
Learning as I go is the reality of my life!

Doing with Less

Hey Everybody,

The recession is affecting everyone, and if you are not feeling its pinches yet, chances are you will soon. For many of us moms, the grocery store is the best place to save money. Smart shopping can add up to $100 a month (or even more!) to your household budget. At the same time, poor shopping habits and impulse buying lead to overspending. Check out these tips and start saving money today!

Know your store. Being a regular shopper at one store enables you to know the layout, recognize special prices, and understand the rotation of sale items.

Buy store brands. Why pay extra for a fancy label?

Shop early morning hours for the best buys in the meat department. Store butchers mark down yesterday’s meat to make room for the freshest cuts.

Go meatless! Have a veggie night once a week for an inexpensive supper. Over the course of a year, 52 meatless nights will add up to big savings!

Purchase non-food items such as cosmetics, toiletries, and household cleaners at a discount store. You'll find prices 20-50% less.

One night a week, have breakfast for dinner.

Make a list! Planning ahead helps avoid impulse buys.

Don’t do your shopping on an empty stomach or with children who are hungry or sleepy. You’ll be so eager to get home, you won’t be able to take your time.

Do the bulk of your shopping every two weeks. On the weeks in-between, buy only fresh food.

Decide if the time-saving, pre-packaged foods are worth the extra cost. If you can eliminate these from your family’s menu, you will be able
to stretch your grocery budget even further. Recipes abound on the web for making your own baby food, baking mix, and even household cleaners.

Stock up when your favorites are on sale. From cereal to
peanut butter, buy enough to last until the next sale.

When it comes to saving money, many of us automatically think of doing without. Let's get our minds around this instead: doing with less. After all, as US citizens, we have so much! What do we really do without? If you are a Christian, the psalmist reminds us: I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread (Ps. 37:25). I know a homeschooling mom who squirrels her children away to her grandparents’ beach cottage every January. With her accountant husband working 60-hour weeks during that time of the year, she takes the opportunity to delve into the kids’ studies, avoid the winter blahs, and for several weeks, keep things simple. The kids are allowed to take only five outfits each and a few toys, but they may bring as many books as they want! There is no TV, no computer, and no hustle or bustle for miles around.

I don't know about you, but I crave a simple life, not filled with stuff but filled with relationships. Not filled with upkeep of said stuff, but filled with time to spend on people. Not filled with pursuit of said stuff (i.e. desiring what I cannot/should not have), but filled with pursuing the heart of God, whose heart is focused on souls. At this season in my life, I need even more time spent with Him in order to absorb the picture of my daughter's senior year, my older son getting ready for a driving permit, and my youngest entering the youth group! I need time to take deep breaths! (Oxygen, please!) Doing without may just mean doing with more of what really counts.

(For even more ways to save at the grocery store, take some time to check out the Faithful Provisions website!)

Behold, The Coupon Gal!

Hey Everybody!

What fun to have the Coupon Gal speak at our church tonight! Kelly Hancock is a fresh, informative speaker, and even the most seasoned shopper left with some valuable tips that could be implemented immediately to save money!

I am well on my way in this couponing game, but I still picked up LOTS more tips from Kelly! One thing I did not know was that she has tons of FREE (I know y'all love that word!) downloadable templates on her blog. You can pick up sheets for your freezer and pantry inventory, grocery list, and more! I asked y'all some time ago to hold me accountable for doing an inventory and since nobody has...well...

Like anything else, saving money at the grocery requires planning. When you fail to plan, you plan to fail, someone once said, and that totally applies to the coupon adventure!

(L to R) me, Kelly, Beth, and "my friend Sandy"

It was especially fun to share this event with good friends! If you've ever heard me speak at a homeschool conference, you've heard me talk about "my friend Sandy." Sandy and I have been homeschooling together for over 13 years! Both of us have senior daughters who are missions-minded. To us, that makes everything we've done over these years worth it all! While my Danya is heading toward a music ministry, Sandy's daughter Olivia is planning to serve in missions either at home or overseas. My friend Beth is an answer to prayer, plain and simple! We met last year through our sons, actually, and now she and her family are serving the Lord at our church. And Kelly--well, my goodness! How sweet of the Lord to bless me when I met Kelly through an article HomeLife magazine assigned me to write! You'll get to read it this coming spring!

Our "Coupon Gal" event was a great outreach for our church! I loved the way that Kelly brought in several devotional points as she seamlessly wove together the practical with the spiritual. She also stressed the importance of prayer and included several points on how to take our needs to the Faithful Provider. He is waiting for us to ask for His help!

The Lord, after all, is all about saving! And remember that word that y'all love? FREE? yeah, His offer of grace and a life spent with Him is a free gift. Check out the Recipe for Life here.